Bondage

D: Eric Allen Bell; with Michael Angarano, Illeana Douglas, Griffin Dunne, Eric Lange, Evan Ellingson, Mae Whitman, Andy Dick, Rocky Marquette, Michael K. Williams, Ezra Buzzington

Michael Anganaro might just be the next generation’s Johnny Depp. Not only is a young man of extreme talent and appeal, but his script choices (Almost Famous, Will & Grace) reflect an affection for adversity much like his elder’s. Eric Allen Bell’s debut feature film isn’t exactly a deep and moving picture of a troubled adolescent, but it is a staunch crossover between teen drama and After School Special. Touching on anger control, pedophilia, fear, and consequences, Bondage is brought down only by pace and a shoddy performance by young love interest Mae Whitman, who is more Amanda Bynes than Winona Ryder. This is what happens when a teenage boy is trapped in a mental-perfection pressure cooker spiced up by a manic mother and a highly disturbed father. But then again, who hasn’t dreamed of setting the school on fire?

3:45pm, Dobie

This article appears in March 17 • 2006.

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